Roma enter the 2013 – 2014 season with a large cloud of doubt over the goalkeeping department. Over the summer, Roma finally cashed in on Maarten Stekelenburg after he failed to impress and acclimatise to Italian football culture. Roma also refused the option to offer Mauro Goicoechea a permanent contract in the capital. It was therefore up to Sporting Director Walter Sabatini to find a replacement and after being linked with the likes of Julio Cesar, expectations were high. When Roma announced the signing of Lukasz Skorupski, many turned their heads as the Poland international is a relative unknown at this level (having joined from Górnik Zabrze). Most Roma fans were to be disappointed again when the signing of Morgan De Sanctis on a two year deal was announced. Although the former Napoli goalkeeper enjoyed a successful stint with the Partenopei, a 2012 Coppa Italia title one of the main highlights, many doubted whether De Sanctis was what Roma needed at this stage in the project. There has arguably been a lack of quality between the sticks since the days of Austrian Michael Konsel and many Giallorossi fans were crying out for this to be the area in which Sabatini splurged. However, Morgan De Sanctis has impressive statistics (Napoli only conceded 36 goals last season with De Sanctis at the helm for the majority of the season) during his stay in Naples despite only being covered by the likes of Salvatore Aronica and Paolo Cannavaro.

In a relatively young squad, Morgan’s experience will be invaluable and may even form part of Rudi Garcia’s council that mediates between players and management. However, should the Morgan De Sanctis gamble not pay off, Roma could still look to Bogdan Lobont who filled in for Maarten Stekelenburg towards the end of last season. The Romanian has been at Roma since 2009 and is currently one of the best second choice goalkeepers in Serie A and would be a good alternative to De Sanctis in the case of injury or, as mentioned above, if the Italian has a bad run of form.

As worried as fans were by the signings of De Sanctis and Skorupski there should be no reason for pessimism. De Sanctis is an experienced Italian who won’t have the same communication problems with his defence as Stekelenburg did and Skorupski looks to be a promising, agile, and athletic custodian who Roma may be able to reply on in the coming years.